Flying-machine



O. WILLIAMS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16. 1918.

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dare/z awuamto'c O. WILLIAMS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16. 1918.

1 ,31 9,82 1 Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

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L Jazmin/[ 607.5 awwwtoz OWEN WIIJLIAMS, 0F IPSWICH, SOUTH DAKOTA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1919.

Application filed February 16, 1918. Serial No. 217,553.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OWEN VVILLLAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ipswich, in the county of Edmunds and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flying machines of the heavier than air type and it is the principal object of the inven tion to provide a machine capable of ascending in a vertical plane and when the desired altitude has been attained, may be' then caused to move in a horizontal or substantially horizontal plane by slight'adjustment of the sustaining means.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel form of sustaining means, the ends of which are capable of being adjusted to govern the flight of the machine.

In order that the invention and the manner of its application may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have, in the accompanying illustrated drawings and in the detailed following descri' tion based thereon, set forth a preferred em odiment of the invention.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section throughthe sustaining means, the cabin of the machine being shown in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a fragmental vertical transverse section through the machine,

Fig. 3 is a fragmental transverse section through a portion of the sustaining means, an

Fig. 4: is a fragmental detail in perspective of one of the bracing hoops and the spring bracing means for the opposite ends of the sustaining means.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like reference characters will designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the improved flying machine includes a cabin or compartment designated in its entirety by the numeral 1, which cabin is provided with suitable landing gears generally indicated by the numeral 2.

Sustaining means in the form of a tubular body 3 are provided and as will. be noted, are secured or attached to the top of the cabin 1 by suitable truss work and hangers designated by the numeral 4. Supported upon a suitable bed arranged in the tubular the medium of a conduit 10 in order that the engine may be operated a suitable pumping means not shown, being connected to said conduit. In this connection, I desire to have it understood, that the control means for the engine, including the means for regulating the flow of gaseous fuel to the various combustion chambers of the engine cylinders and the means for regulating the intensity of the igniting spark are arranged in the cabin 1 at a polnt convenient to the operator of the machine. In this way, it of course will be understood, that the operator will be enabled to fully control the speed and direction of travel of the machine. Screw propellers 11 are fixedly mounted upon the opposite ends of the tubular sustaining means and as will be understood, have the blades of the same arranged in a manner to cause the production of a forced draft through th tubular sustaining means, the intensity of which maybe varied by the speed at which the engine is driven the propellers, obviously, rotating in accordance therewith.

With a view toward providing means for governing the ascension, descension, and course of flight 0f the machine, I engage with the opposite ends of the tubular sustaining member tubular fabric bodies designated by the numerals 121 and 13. About these fabric bodies there is arranged a plurality of metal hoops generally indicated by the numeral 14., which as will be understood, are secured to the adjacent portions of the tubular elements '12 and 13 by a suit able means in order that undue movement or displacement of the same with relationthereto will be positively-prevented. Upon the upper portions of each of the hoops 14 apertured ears 15 are formed and receive therethrough the convolutions of 'expansible coiled springs -16. These springs 16 are so formed as tonormally assume horizontal positlons and as a consequence, when re leased, they will cause the flexible tubular members 12 and 13 to be moved into horizontal positions, whereupon the same will aline with the sides of the tubular sustaining member 3 and of course, be arranged in parallel relation thereto. Cables 17 are pro-' vided and are passed through the expansible coiled springs 16 into engagement with the outer ends of each of the tubular members 12 and 13 as at 18, while the inner portions of the same are passed over? guide pulleys 19 and are thence extended downwardly into engagement with suitable control means 20 arranged in! the cabin 1, which control means, may if desired, be in form of a windlass or like element about which the cables are wound. Obviously, by so connecting the cables 17 with the tubular members 12 and 13, said members may be caused to assume curved positions such for instance as shown in the Fig. 1, thereby afiordingmeans whereby the ascension, descension and flight of the machine may be controlled at will by the operator by merely actuating the operating or control means 20 in the desired direction to either wind the lower portion of the cable against the tension of the lower spring and allow the upper spring to extend the upper portion of the cable or vice versa, to in consequence arrange the tubular flexible end portion in the desired position.

Arranged about and secured to a portion of the tubular sustaining members 3 is a landing element 21, said element comprising a flexible sheet, the marginal portions of which are adapted to normally lie in proximity to the under side of the tubular sustaining member 3. Cables 22 are connected to the marginal portions of the element 21 and extend downwardly into the cabin 1 whereupon they are engaged with suitable operating or control means, not shown.

In operation and assuming that the propellers 11 are being rotated at high velocities by the engine 6, a forced draft-will be produced through the tubular sustaining means including the members 3, 12, and 13. Hence, when the cables 19 are operated to cause the curving of the tubular member 12 upwardly and the curving of the tubular member 13 downwardly, the machine 'will be caused to ascend in a true perpendicular plane. When the tubular members 12 and 13 are in these curved positions, it will be noted that the upper portions of the member 12 and the lower portions of the member 13 will fold upon themselves, due to the arrangement of the metal hoops 14. After the desired altitude has been attained and it is desired to then cause flight of the machine in a horizontal plane, the tubular members 12 and 13 are permitted to return to their normal horizontal, by releasing the con trol cables 17 through the medium of the operating or control means 20. By reason of the provision of the expansible coiled springs 16, it will of course be understood that said tubular members 12 and 13 will be immediately returned to their normal positions in alinement with the sides of the tubular sustaining member 3. Should it be desired to descend in the machine or should the engine become dead, the tubular members 12 and 13 are then moved to downturned positions and upon downward movement of the machine, the cables 22 are released to permit the sides of the landing element 21 to be moved outwardly with 'respect to the sides of the sustaining mem bers. In this way, the drop or descension of the machine will be lessened to a considerable extent and as a-oonsequenee, themachine permitted to make its landing in safety. I

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is .within the scope of my claims,Iconsider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a flying machine, sustaining means including a tubular rigid main portion, tubular flexible end portions connected with the end edges of the main portion, bracing rings arranged about the tubular flexible portions at suitably spaced intervals, expansible resilient means connected with the main portion and with the bracing rings for normally maintaining the flexible portions in horizontal positions, cooperative means engaged with the outer edges of the end portions for holding said end portions in various positions with relation to the main portion and against the tension of the resilient means, find draft producing means in the main porion.

2. In a flying machine, sustaining means including a tubular rigid main portion and tubular-flexible end portions connected with the end edges of the main portion, a plurality of bracing rings arranged about and secured at suitably spaced intervals to the outer surface of the flexible end portions, expansible coiled springs having their inner ends connected with the end edges of the main portion and also connected with the bracing rings on the flexible portions for holding the flexible portions in horizontal positions, flexible elements having their end portions arranged through the coiled springs and connected with the outer edges of the flexible portions, control means with which the flexible elements are associated for insuring of the maintenance of the flexible end portions in various positions with relation to the main portion and against the tension of the springs, and thus produc ing means in the main portion.

3. In a flying machine, tubular sustaining means, the opposite ends of the sustaining means being flexible, bracing means aring means for moving the same with relation ranged about said flexible ends of the susto the intermediate portion thereof, and mining means, resilient means engaged with draft Producing means arranged in said 10 the flexible ends for normally maintaining sustaining means.

6 the same in alinement with the intermediate In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature portion of the sustaining means, means enhereto. V gaged with the flexible ends of the sustain- OWEN WILLIAMS. 

